2011-07-31

Ballad of Springhill Nova Scotia

U2's Bono sang a verse of the Ballad of Springhill tonight at Magnetic Hill in Moncton. And rightly so, as Springhill, Nova Scotia, is only 95km away. Deep coal mines can be deadly, and the one in Sprinhill was no exception. 1958 was the last time that the "coal was covered in blood and bone" under Springhill, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia.

Version sung by Bono's inspiration: Luke Kelly

Version sung by Bono on Irish TV (and at some of his concerts in 1987).

If you are reading this today, Sunday, July 31st, 2011, you might want to head to Springhill for their music festival. There will be a singalong of the song at 5:30PM at Lions Park.

Unfortunately for the sole black survivor, he had to stay in a trailer, segregated from his white coworkers.

In the town of Springhill, Nova ScotiaDown in the dark of the Cumberland MineThere's blood on the coal and the miners lieIn the roads that never saw sun nor sky. (x2)In the town of Springhill, you don't sleep easyOften the earth will tremble and roarWhen the earth is restless, miners dieBone and blood is the price of coal. (x2)In the town of Springhill, Nova ScotiaLate in the year of fifty-eightDay still comes and the sun still shines(But it's) Dark as the grave in the Cumberland mine. (x2)Down at the coal face, miners workingRattle of the belt and the cutter's bladeRumble of the rock and the walls closed round(The) Living and the dead men two miles down. (x2)Twelve men lay two miles from the pitshaftTwelve men lay in the dark and sangLong hot days in the miners tomb(It was) Three feet high and a hundred long. (x2)Three days past and the lamps gave outAnd Caleb Rushton got up and and saidThere’s no more water, or light, or bread(So we'll) Live on song and hope instead. (x2)Listen for the shouts of the barefaced minersListen thru the rubble for a rescue teamSix hundred feet of coal and slagHope imprisoned in a three foot seam. (x2)Eight days passes and some were rescuedLeaving the dead to lie aloneThru all their lives they dug their graveTwo miles of earth for a marking stone. (x2)